BCC Sharks Code of Conduct
The Northwest
Swim Circuit(NWSC) and BCC Sharks Swim Team(BCCS) were formed with the objective of helping young
swimmers to develop physical fitness, self-discipline, self-confidence,
proficiency in competitive swimming strokes, determination to do one’s best,
and good sportsmanship. The expectation
of the NWSC Executive Board as well as
the BCCS Board is that participants will exhibit the highest standards of
sportsmanship at all times while participating in all NWSC and all BCCS affiliated
events. Every participant, including
swimmers, coaches, officials, board members, parents and spectators, has a
responsibility to behave in a respectable manner and to comply with and support
the Code of Conduct for both the NWSC and BCC Sharks.
EXPECTATIONS FOR SWIMMERS AND PARENTS
BCC Sharks Parent Code of Conduct
As the parent
of a BCCS swimmer, you agree to follow the rules for behavior and sportsmanship:
Set a good example. Show respect and
be polite to EVERYONE. Follow the NWSC Code of Conduct. Have your swimmer arrive on time for
practices and meets. Demonstrate good sportsmanship. Win
gracefully. Lose graciously. Congratulate our opponent(s). While at all BCCS and NWSC functions,
facilities, and meets always represent the team in a positive and respectful
manner. Do not distract the swimmers or
coaches by interfering in practices or meets. If you have a concern about how your
swimmer is progressing, please make arrangements to meet with the coach
privately. Volunteer at meets and team events.
Every meet requires a huge number of volunteers from each team to operate
smoothly. Meet
Etiquette :
Respond in a timely manner for meet
event and volunteer entries. If you are going to be late or absent
from the meet you must report that to (1) the head coach, (2) the computer rep,
and (3) your tent parent. Failure to do so often impacts relays and other
swimmers. Coaches DO NOT have the ability to pass that information along in a timely
manner the day of the meet. Show up to the meet at the required
check-in time for each meet. DO NOT film or take pictures from
behind the blocks. If you have questions about a
disqualification speak to the coaches. Do not approach officials at a meet. Be mindful of each meet’s rules for
spectators, parking, tent set up and deck space. Be respectful of other spectators. If
your swimmer is not swimming, step back and let others watch their swimmers. Coaches have the final say in swimmer
events and relay structure. BCC Sharks Swimmer Code of Conduct
As a BCCS
swimmer, you agree to follow the rules for behavior and sportsmanship wherever
and whenever the BCCS are represented:
Show respect and be polite to
EVERYONE. Follow the NWSC Code of Conduct. Respect the property of BCCS and of
others. Do not use others’ property without their permission. Do not steal or vandalize anything
that doesn’t belong to you. Do not use profanity. Do not make ugly
comments to others. Do not lie. Do not behave in a manner that makes
coaches or other swimmers uncomfortable (public displays of affection, sexual
harassment, bullying). While at all BCCS functions, facilities
and meets always represent the team in a positive and respectful manner. Swim
Practice Etiquette :
Arrive on time to practices. Listen to coaches and follow their
direction. Do not disrupt your coach or bother
others in your lane. Practice good sportsmanship and
encourage teammates. Meet
Etiquette :
Show up to the meets on time for check
in. Demonstrate good sportsmanship. Win
gracefully. Lose graciously. Congratulate and encourage our opponents. If you have questions about a
disqualification speak to the coaches. Do not approach officials at a meet. Remember to be a positive
representative of BCCS. If you should
conduct yourself in a manner that brings discredit or discord to BCCS or NWSC,
you subject yourself to disciplinary action. BCCS maintains the right to
suspend or terminate any membership with or without cause.
Prohibited Behavior for all
participants
Use or possession of drugs, firearms,
alcohol, tobacco, or any other hazardous substances. Theft. Extreme demonstration of disrespect to
property or individuals (vandalism, bullying, harassment). Anything that is against NWSC rules. Unsportsmanlike Conduct: While attending and/or participating in any NWSC or
member club affiliated practice or event, no individual shall:(1) Use trash talk, profane, obscene or vulgar language,
or gesture under any circumstances, on or off the pool area, or
(2) Engage in an objectionable demonstration of dissent
or unsportsmanlike conduct such as throwing equipment or any other forceful
action.
(3) Otherwise behave in an unsportsmanlike fashion,
including engaging in or escalating arguments between any participants at the
event
Refusal to Abide by Officials: While attending and/or participating in any NWSC or
member club affiliated practice or event, no individual shall refuse to abide
by an official's decision.Violent Physical Behavior: While attending and/or participating in any NWSC or
member club affiliated practice or event, no individual shall:(1) At
any time strike, shove, threaten to strike or lay a hand upon an official,
swimmer, coach or spectator.
(2) Engage in an abusive, verbal
attack upon any official, swimmer, coach or spectator on or off the pool area.
Practice or BCC Sharks Event Reporting Procedure
Members of BCCS need to feel confident their concerns are
being listened to by our coaches and board. Please follow the procedure below if
you suspect there is any incident and/or other safety concerns:
1. Swimmer and/or parent should notify the head
coach and/or BCCS board
president of the incident.
2. Head coach and/or BCCS board president will address the situation with involved parties.
3. Depending on the incident and what was found
through investigation of the incident, disciplinary action will occur.
4. The Head Coach and/or board President will
meet with involved parties to discuss the results of the incident investigation
and disciplinary actions, if any.
If the
problem continues, is significant or chronic, the coach or volunteer will bring
the issue to the Head Coach and/or board President and the following procedures will be
triggered*:
1. Head
Coach and/or board President will issue an Official Warning. The First Official Warning of a breach of
the Code of Conduct will be communicated directly to the offender by the Head
Coach and/or board President. An email documenting it will be sent
from the Board to the offender and/or offender’s parent/guardian.
2. The
next breach of the Code of Conduct will be called the Second Official Warning . This will require a conference between the
Head Coach, a Board member, the offender and/or the offender’s parent/guardian.
This Second Official Warning may result in removal from the next swim meet
and/or practice. Notification will be sent from the Board to the offender
and/or offender’s parent/guardian via email. Future consequences will be
spelled out explicitly.
3. A
third breach of the Code of Conduct will result in removal from the team. There
will be no reimbursement of team fees with this situation.
These actions
may be appealed to the Board according to the Bylaws, Article III, Section F:
Termination & Suspension.
*The BCCS board reserves the right to
immediately dismiss any swimmer or family from the team for egregious behavior
including, but not limited to, theft, vandalism, drugs, any action that bring
physical harm to others or any other violent behavior.
Meet Reporting Procedure
All meet and NWSC
events are governed by the NWSC Code of Conduct polices, reporting and
penalties guideline. However, all behavior by BCCS swimmers, parents or other
team participants should also be done in accordance with the BCCS Code of
conduct and those expectations and penalties also apply.
ATHLETE PROTECTION POLICIES
Inappropriate
touching between an athlete and an adult is prohibited, including, but not
limited to, excessive touching, hugging, kissing, sexually oriented behavior, sexually
stimulating or otherwise inappropriate games, and having an athlete sit on a
non-family member adult’s lap.
Any rubdown or
massage performed on an athlete by any adult, excluding the spouse, parent,
guardian, sibling, or personal assistant of such athlete, is prohibited unless
such adult is a licensed massage therapist or other certified professional.
Any rubdown or
massage performed at a swim venue by a licensed professional must be conducted
in open/public locations and must never be done with only the athlete and
licensed massage therapist in the room. Even if a coach is a licensed massage
therapist, the coach shall not perform a rubdown or massage of an athlete under
any circumstances.
Use of audio or
visual recording devices, including a cell phone camera, is not allowed in
changing areas, rest rooms, locker rooms or directly behind the starting
blocks.
MISCONDUCT REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS
It is every
member’s responsibility to promptly report any incident regarding sexual or other
misconduct to the Head Coach and/or any board member. Reporting must occur when
an individual has firsthand knowledge of misconduct or where specific and
credible information has been received from a victim or knowledgeable third
party. Texas law requires all incidents be reported to law enforcement as soon
as information is made known.
Filing a
knowingly false allegation of misconduct, sexual or otherwise, is prohibited
and may violate state criminal law and civil defamation laws. Any person making
a knowingly false allegation of sexual misconduct shall be subject to
disciplinary action by BCCS.
Neither civil nor
criminal statutes of limitation apply to reports of cases of sexual abuse.
NO MEMBER SHALL RETALIATE AGAINST ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS MADE A GOOD
FAITH REPORT.
BY SIGNING BELOW, I DO HEREBY CERTIFY THAT I HAVE READ AND AGREE TO ABIDE BY THE BCC SHARKS CODE OF CONDUCT.
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Enter your initials to indicate acceptance:
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